LAGT and LET study co-sanctioning of tournaments

The cordial meeting between the Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) and the Ladies European Tour (LET) that took place at the Discovery Bay Golf Club, here, is all set to bring huge benefits to both Tours in 2008.

LAGT Chief Executive Aylwin Tai with Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of LET

LAGT Chief Executive Aylwin Tai said the meeting with Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of LET, had opened the doors for both Tours to work in harmony for the development of women's golf and tournaments.

For example, Tai said he is considering joint-sanctioning of next year's (2008) Hong Kong Ladies Masters with LET. The prize purse would be increased to a minimum of US$250,000, which would make it one of the richest tournaments in Asia in the 2008 LAGT Tour calendar.

"LET has assured us of providing its top players, while the rest of the field will comprise players from the LAGT. We are planning to have the event around the Australian swing," said Aylwin, adding that the move is to elevate the Hong Kong Ladies Masters to the elite category.

He said that as a result, Asian lady professionals will have more opportunity to play with some of the top lady professionals from Europe.

"I'm grateful that LET has expressed its desire to work closely with LAGT for the enhancement of women's golf," Aylwin said.

Armas said it was an exciting opportunity to work closely with LAGT especially in collaborating in some tournaments.

"We have limited tournaments because Europe is seasonal whereas Asia is not – at least in the countries where the LAGT tournaments are being played. So by having joint-sanctioned events, it will actually help provide LET players more tournaments and the chance to play on the fabulous golf courses in Asia," she said.

Armas was pleased with what she saw when she arrived on Thursday. She said: "The venue is beautiful, the setting here is very nice and the quality organisation. You have good players playing in this week's Hong Kong Ladies Masters and I'm glad LAGT is moving ahead well. I could see the enthusiasm running high among all the people involved in this tournament."

Armas said LAGT had tremendous potential to be a major Tour in the near future. "This is why we are looking at working together in some events to have the best of Europe and Asia together in one or two of the LAGT events," she said, adding that it was time to maximise the potential the two Tours have.

"Together we must create a big impact," Armas said.

February 2, 2007